Episode II.... The Unknown

Spectrum - Trailer from Kyle Cowling on Vimeo.

Round 2 of the 2015 International OTMX Series

Fernley, NV.

The second round of the Old Timer International Motocross championship was held in Fernley Nevada. Fernley is about as opposite in beautifulness as it gets when compared to say Washougal. I didn’t even bother taking pictures, the same could be said for round one which was held in a giant pit behind a prison in Arizona.

The track in Arizona had many sections that were fun even had some up and down elevation changes. But there were parts of the track for us not as brave guys that were very sketchy to say the least. The Fernley track on the other hand was flat and fast and at first glance didn’t have the look of a very technical layout, but as time went on it turned out to be a tough challenging track. At first you could  over jump some of the table tops but as the track got rougher you had to keep your courage up down the long back section in order to even come close to jumping them. A little head shake in the rough sand straights tends to shrink you.

I think the east track at Fernley tends to have much deeper softer sand and the track had three or four corners that were flat, deep and loose. One right hander in particular gave virtually everyone problems. The track seemed fairly short or the lap times were just that fast I’m not sure but we made lots of laps. Unlike Arizona I don’t think they hauled anyone away, there were lots of tip over’s but nothing really serious that I know of. 

Carmen Ogino #72 leads the 50 Expert class at the Fernley sand track

I don’t know how many riders there were but I heard they had about a hundred pre entries plus people like me who post entered. I’m not sure but I believe this was this particular group of Old Timers first time to put on a race and I must say overall they did a good job. Things started out a little disheveled but they pulled it together when it mattered, I’d go back, if they promised to get rid of the mosquitoes that appeared every evening. (Question, where do mosquitoes come from when there’s no water in sight in the desert for miles?)

I enjoyed the weekend had a great time visiting with all the people I’ve come to know doing these events; it doesn’t get any better than that. And sometimes you eat the bear and sometimes the bear eats you, this weekend I ate the bear. There were seven in my class (including last year’s class champion) and I won all the motos, sweet. Looks like I’m going to stick with my KTM 450 for motocross. It worked great!

Next up; The Sierra MotoCross Classic at Prairie City June 6-7.

Doug 21J

Answer, the locals say the mosquitoes come from the sage brush.

Southwick Returns from the Dead!

Fans, riders flock to motocross event in Southwick

Track located near American Legion post on Powder Mill Rd.

By Sy Becker

 

SOUTHWICK, Mass. (WWLP) – It was like home week for many motocross fans and competitors in Southwick on Sunday.

Hundreds of riders took part in the day’s events, which organizers claim are bigger and better than before national competition was discontinued at the Southwick track.

Riders who cut their teeth at the American Legion-owned track told 22News what it meant to them to compete here again.

Keith Johnson of Carver said, “My first race here was in 1977, so a long time ago. I grew up racing here, turned professional racer for 20 years, raced all over the country, all over the world, really.”

Organizers told 22News fans have remained faithful to the Southwick track during the more than 20 races held each year near the American Legion post on Powder Mill Road.

Travis...Is He Completely Insane?

 TP is the ultimate showman. There is no one like him. He continues to amaze with his unlimiteed bag of tricks and the boy can sure ride a bike!

Another MX Track Stays Open

Motocross track permit renewed

Posted: Thursday, April 16, 2015 5:30 pm

Motocross track permit renewed By JOHN KLINE john.kline@goshennews.com Goshen News

GOSHEN — Local motocross riders got some good news Thursday during a meeting of the Elkhart County Board of Zoning Appeals.During Thursday’s meeting, the board voted to approve a request by Jeffrey Hershberger, owner of Homestead Motocross Inc., for a special use permit renewal for a motocross practice track at 12970 C.R. 4, Middlebury.

According to Hershberger, the track’s special use permit — required due to its location in a residentially/agriculturally zoned area — was first approved in 2013 for a period of two years. With the track’s special use expiring this year, Hershberger said he needed to either apply for an extension, or be forced to close the track.

“We are here to ask for an extension of five years on our special use permit to maintain our existing motocross track,” Hershberger said of his request. “We will maintain a dust controlled environment, and maintain the hours that were previously approved, seven days a week, 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. ride time only, and no more than 20 vehicles on the track at a time.”

According to the company website, www.homesteadmx.com, the practice track is designed to appeal to riders of all ages and skill levels, and includes various training obstacles, such as sand whoops, small doubles, table tops and a step-up. The track also includes space for riders to go around each jump in the event they are unsure of their ability to safely complete the jump.

Hershberger noted that the track is maintained on a weekly basis, and includes portable restroom facilities. No alcohol or illegal substances are allowed on the premises at any time. Cost to use the track is $10 per rider per day.

In reviewing the request, county planning staff said there have been no complaints lagainst the track in the two years it has been in operation.

As such, staff recommended approval of the permit extension with the following conditions and commitments: that the days and hours of operation be limited to seven days a week, 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; that the number of riders be limited to 20 on the track at any given time; that portable restroom facilities be provided; that the riding area and driveway access be dust controlled; that no riding of the motocross vehicles be allowed on the driveway access; and that there will be no sanctioned race events allowed on the track.

The board agreed, and a motion to approve the permit extension was approved unanimously.

Ricky Opens OHV Park

Motocross legend Ricky Carmichael
will open new OHV park in Milton

April 16, 2015 @ 3:03pm

•  

Legendary Motocross and Supercross rider Ricky Carmichael, 2013 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Inductee, will headline the grand opening the Florida Forest Service’s newest off-highway vehicle (OHV) park on the Blackwater River State Forest in Milton, Fla. on April 18.

The Clear Creek OHV Riding Area will offer 27 miles of trails for off-highway motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles.

The grand opening will begin at 8 a.m. with a ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. Carmichael will sign autographs started at noon.

The park is located at 8348 Redbird Trail in Milton.

For more information about the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visitFreshFromFlorida.com.

Wow... Great Photography From Cudby

This is the time of the year when many clothing compasnies introduce new riding gear. They have their sponsored riders show off all the new colors and styles in high energy videos. Have you ever wondered where they shoot those videos or what the still shots look like. Check out these pictures for some very high quality shots! Nobody does it better than Fly Racing.

Fly Racing - "Now that we've released our 2015.5 Kinetic Vector spring racewear, we thought we'd give you a
glimpse of Team FLY riders in action during the recent photo shoots. Shot on location at
Zaca Station MX with riders Andrew Short, Zach Osborne, Martin Davalos, and Zach Bell; as well
as at one of the So. Cal Supercross test tracks with Trey Canard, we thought we'd give you a
behind-the-scenes look at what our spring release gear looks like in action."

http://www.flyracing.com/breaking-news/action-fly-racing-spring-release-racewear-photoshoot

Motocross racing on Caroline Bay may be here to stay.

Can you imagine racing like this in the US? Just think how much fun this would be! Sounds like the boys down under had a  absolute blast. Moto is so much fun worldwide!

  

 John Bisset /FairfaxNZ. South Canterbury Motorcycle club beach racing on Caroline Bay,

Motocross racing on Caroline Bay may be here to stay.

Hundreds of spectactors watched as at least 150 riders from the South Canterbury Motorcycle Club ripped their way around a purpose-built course on the beach for the first time in 13 years on Saturday.

Organiser Andrew Richardt said he had been overwhelmed with the positive feedback he had received during the "bloody awesome" day.

"The public response to it has just been incredible. Even people who don't know or like motocross were coming up to me and saying how great it was to see the beach being used.

"It drives you to have another one, to try to make it an annual thing again."

The club days used to be held on an almost annual basis from 1996 to 2002 but were only reinvigorated this year after some new blood at the club had a go at getting them back.

Richardt wanted to hold it in January because the drought had dried up the motocross track in the region.

He was given permission by Environment Canterbury and the Timaru District Council to hold the event in April, once the bay's little blue penguins were out at sea.

He said he would talk with the council again to see if it was possible to carry on using the beach.

"I haven't heard one complaint but we'll just check with them at the end of the week and see how they are feeling about it."

The racing itself was a mighty struggle, Richardt said.

Across nine classes, from mini bikes to senior motocross riders and clubmans, there were plenty of spills on the loose sand.

There were no major injuries, with the kids in particular enjoying themselves, he said.

As the tide came in some of the course the club had laid out earlier in the day with the help of a digger was swallowed by the incoming tide, making for interesting conditions for the riders and forcing the final round racing to be shortened by a few laps.

 - The Timaru Herald

Johnson City's Brown gives Husqvarna first Endurocross win

Johnson City Press

April 10th, 2015 10:48 pm by Jeff Birchfield

 

Racing for a brand better known for its chain saws than motorcycles, Mike Brown cut the competition down to size at the latest GEICO Endurocross Series race in Salt Lake City.

The Johnson City rider’s No. 3 Husqvarna was the fastest bike all weekend during the series’ most recent race. After being the best on the holeshot for a second straight event, Brown led the entirety of the race, which included successfully navigating his way through obstacles of rocks and blocks of wood.

“It had been a year since I had won a race so it was good to be back on the winning podium again,” Brown said. “It was a good day, started out good in practice and I won everything all day long. It was good for sure to get back up there.”

It was a big win for the Husqvarna brand which is trying to make itself better known in the United States for its motorcycles as well as the outdoor power equipmment.

Brown, who enjoyed great success, racing under the KTM banner, talked about a 1-2 Husky finish with his teammate Colton Haaker.

“It was the first time Husky had won an Endurocross race like that and they’re pushing it harder than the other brands,” Brown said. “I was glad to be the first one to get them the win like that.”

It’s another milestone in Brown’s legendary career.

He was the AMA 125cc motocross national champion back in 2001.

Eight years later, he captured the World Off Road Championship Series title and has added two X Games gold medal and five gold medals from the International Six Days Enduro, an event that was first held in 1913 and has been called the “Olympics of Motorcycling.”

The 44-year-old continues to not only race, but outperform riders half his age. He is currently third in the series’ point standings with the next event scheduled for May 1 in Las Vegas.

“I hope we can challenge for the championship,” Brown said. “I’ve got three more weeks of good practice riding before the next race. I would like be in the lead after the next race, but it’s a long season and the goal is to be consistent, to be up there each and every week. If you can stay close to the front every week, you have a good chance of winning.”

In Endurocross, it’s even more important than motocross to limit the number of mistakes.

“I know some of the guys are so good at getting through the technical stuff,” Brown said. “It’s harder for me to do that, but last weekend I just did the best I could with no mistakes. I was quick on the rest of the track so it worked out.”

As far as the dreadied retirement word, Brown said it’s not in his plans right now. As long as he’s healthy and competitive, it remains fun to compete on a national stage.

“I still love riding and I still love racing,” Brown said. “I do the proper training and I’m still not burned out on it. I don’t think I could still do the motocross like I was, but this still feels new to me and I still enjoy it.”

One motocross event he would love to do is the AMA Tennessee National at his home track of Muddy Creek. However, that race on June 6 will again conflict with the dates of the X Games to be held in Austin, Texas.

Beyond his racing career, Brownie is serving as a coach to some of the younger riders including a pair from Argentina.

Brown is arguably the most well-rounded rider in history, competing at the highest levels in motocross, Supercross and even in endurance races like the Baja 1000.

As he has evolved as a racer, so has his equipment. The Husqvarna FE 350 he currently rides is far advanced from the bikes he started out with.

“Nowadays, the kids are training hard and pushing the bikes harder than ever before,” he said. “Everything about the bikes have changed. The engines are faster, but the suspension is the main thing.”

For now, he’s proving that an old veteran can handle the new bikes just as well as the young, fearless kids. The latest shot of confidence has Brown feeling like he’s one of those kids again.

“As a rider, you kind of get down when you’re not doing well, and feel like you’re losing a little bit,” he said. “But after winning, it gives you another boost. I think I will keep going as long as I have a chance to be up there on the podium and riding my best. I don’t want to be back in sixth, seventh, eighth-place all the time. When it’s like that, it will be time to call it a day.”

Controversial Dade City motocross compound approved

The Tampa Tribune

By Laura Kinsler | Tribune Staff
Published: April 9, 2015   |   Updated: April 10, 2015 at 12:08 AM

DADE CITY — Pasco commissioners approved a new permit for motocross star Chad Reed’s personal training compound east of Dade City, but only after the rider agreed to reduce the number of hours he could ride on Saturdays.

Reed owns the 63-acre compound on Duck Lake Canal Road. The property has two outdoor replicas of indoor supercross tracks, a meandering 11-acre motocross track and a mile-long paved track, which he uses to race go-karts.

The vote resolves a years-long legal battle between Reed and the county, and gives some relief to neighbors who say the noise from Reed’s training tracks is a constant annoyance.

“We think this is a great solution,” attorney Barbara Wilhite said of the mediated settlement.

Chairman Ted Schrader and several other commissioners visited the neighborhood to hear firsthand what they’ve been complaining about since Reed bought the property 11 years ago. Schrader pressed the Reed camp to give up riding on weekends, but Wilhite refused.

She said Reed needs the flexibility to be able to train on weekends if weather disrupts his training regimen during the week. She also pointed out that the go-kart track is a recreational activity and something he enjoys with his friends and family on the weekends. They agreed to cut the permitted training time on Saturdays from four hours to two hours.

The settlement also requires Reed to monitor all of the racing activity with time-stamp video and to keep the records for at least a month.

The permit allows Reed and his friends to ride up to five dirt bikes at a time, as long as they don’t exceed the maximum sound limit set by the American Motorcyclist Association, 116 decibels. It also specifies the hours and days Reed can use the tracks. He is not permitted to train at all on Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, Mother’s Day or Father’s Day.

Assistant County Attorney Kristi Sims, who sued Reed in 2013 on behalf of the neighbors, said the video component of the agreement is critical to assure Reed complies with the riding conditions.

“I hope you understand that code enforcement cannot run out there at 8:15 at night to determine if someone is riding on the tracks,” she said.

Wilhite said county inspectors had already used the system to investigate a code complaint. “My client wasn’t happy about spending thousands of dollars on video surveillance equipment, but I told him it would protect him from unfounded claims — and it did,” Wilhite said.

Attorney Len Johnson represented the Larkin family, who live next to the compound, and spoke in favor of the agreement.

“Don’t get the impression we’re delighted with a motorcycle track next door — we’d rather have crickets and cows,” he said. “We understand the legal reality of where we are. We understand property rights.”

In other business, commissioners adopted a new interlocal agreement with the Pasco sheriff’s office that codifies the changes at the 911 Communications Center that were requested by Sheriff Chris Nocco. Adding new positions, such as assistant 911 director and quality assurance manager, will cost about $300,000 a year.

“This will save lives,” Nocco said.

Both Nocco and County Administrator Michele Baker said the negotiation marked a new chapter in their working relationship, which had reached a low point last month.

“I think this is a foretell of the way our relationship is going to go from now on,” Baker said.

lkinsler@tampatrib.com